All articles tagged with #internet shutdown
Internet access in Iran is returning in a phased manner after nearly three months of blackout following regional strikes; officials call it a step toward free and regulated cyberspace, with NetBlocks and Kentik reporting partial restoration around 13:00 GMT but many networks remain down, and observers warn the rebound may be uneven and temporary, even as a Tehran content creator notes potential income recovery.
Iran’s nationwide internet outage forced users onto distrusted domestic platforms (Rubika, Bale, Shad), disrupting education and business, slowing speeds and raising fears of surveillance, while some bypass efforts persist.
Iran has spent more than a decade building a centralized National Information Network to monitor and control citizens’ digital life. The recent near-total internet shutdown exposed the regime’s enhanced surveillance capabilities and its ability to restrict or cut off global access while keeping internal networks running, signaling a potential permanent disconnection or splintering and a broad, centralized surveillance apparatus.
After protests in January, Iran shut down the internet—the longest blackout in the country’s history—in an effort to stop mobilization, a move that slowed information flow but did not quell the uprising. Connectivity has returned in fits and starts, with Starlink terminals providing a rare window into events, while experts note the regime’s use of censorship, coercion, and AI-driven disinformation. The piece also discusses how activists rely on VPNs and satellite access to document abuses and how satellite-to-cell tech could reimagine connectivity beyond state-controlled networks.
Amid the Winter 2026 protests, Iran’s regime intensifies a violent crackdown and a prolonged internet shutdown that deepen an economic meltdown—currency slumps, basic goods rise, and online businesses suffer multi‑million‑dollar losses—while compensation promises struggle to offset dwindling revenue, raising the likelihood of renewed protests. In Syria, Tehran‑backed moves to integrate the SDF into Damascus risk Kurdish resistance and wider conflict, as security in al Hol camp challenges the regime and new GSS forces are recruited. Iraq adds regional volatility with stalled presidential elections and militia threats amid broader tensions with the United States.
On the 27th day of nationwide Iran protests, HRANA reports 5,137 confirmed deaths (12,904 under review), about 7,402 seriously injured, and 27,797 arrests, amid a third week of nationwide internet shutdowns. NetBlocks records 348 hours of blackout with signs of staged restoration, while arrests and forced confession videos continue to surface. Internationally, the UN Human Rights Council held a special session and adopted a resolution extending the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the UN fact-finding mission. Updated totals show 640 gatherings across 194 cities in 31 provinces, including 175 arrests of individuals under 18.
Iran has kept 92 million people offline for 10 days in a sweeping internet blackout. Officials say it’s to counter externally directed 'terrorist operations', but reporting suggests the regime is moving toward permanent or highly restricted access, potentially a government‑run, vetted system that would cut the country off from the international internet. Observers warn the move endangers lives, fuels abuses, and erodes livelihoods while protest coverage remains stifled. Some tech avenues, like satellite and mesh networks, offer limited resilience, but the trend signals stricter digital control.
Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine was placed under house arrest a day after presidential elections, as early results show incumbent President Yoweri Museveni leading by a wide margin (about 76% with a quarter of votes counted); the vote was marked by internet shutdowns and chaotic polling, with final results expected by Saturday.
Uganda shut down nationwide internet access a few days before its presidential vote, saying the move is to prevent hate speech and misinformation as longtime president Yoweri Museveni seeks a seventh term against challenger Bobi Wine; critics warn it could hinder protest organizing, with results due after the weekend.
Nationwide protests in Iran have killed at least 2,000 people as authorities intensify a crackdown and cut internet access; state television acknowledged a high death toll, while international actors from the UN to the EU and UK consider sanctions and condemn the violence.
Iran has imposed a near-total communications blackout as security forces crackdown on nationwide protests, with eyewitnesses reporting gunfire and mass injuries amid a flood of body bags; rights groups and U.S. intelligence say the death toll could range from hundreds to thousands, while hospitals are overwhelmed and verification remains difficult.
Iran has shut down its internet and communication lines amid nationwide protests, severely limiting information flow and complicating efforts to document and respond to the unrest, with reliance on illegal Starlink devices playing a crucial role in sharing news outside the country.
A UN-mandated fact-finding mission has called on Iran to end violent crackdowns on protests, restore internet access, and respect human rights, amid reports of deaths, arrests, and brutal force used against protesters, especially in ethnic minority regions, following nationwide demonstrations triggered by economic collapse and previous protests.
Uganda's authorities deny plans to shut down the internet during the 2026 elections, despite concerns and previous incidents, with officials emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted connectivity and legal online conduct, while opposition parties prepare offline monitoring tools amid political tensions.
Amnesty International reports ongoing human rights violations in Tanzania, including unlawful killings and excessive force against protesters, amid nationwide internet and electricity blackouts following the October 29 elections. The organization urges authorities to restore access, investigate abuses, and respect peaceful assembly rights.